Suaeda Forssk. ex Scop.
A genus with about 14 species in N Africa, with a very wide distribution in the Mediterranean and Saharan zones. 7 species are woody shrubs and one becomes a small tree. The rest are usually more or less herbaceous. Notable among the latter is S. arguinensis Maire, from the northern coastal areas of Mauritanie. Maire described it as an annual (the type is from Murat, 1939) but it seems that it was a juvenile specimen, and this has been repeated in other publications. However, it is a perennial species, with some specimens up to 1 m. d’altitude. Attioui & Lemmel (2020) affirm that it is perennial and, at least the old specimens, have woody stems. It is well differentiated by its long and narrow obovate leaves (up to 25 x 3 mm), 3 stigmas, and upright seeds.
Attioui, Z. & Lemmel, C. 2020. Flore et végétation du Parc national du Banc d’Arguin – Réédition commentée d’un article de Théodore Monod. Al-yasmina, 2020-14.
Key to species
1 Shrub or small tree up to 4 m, with basal trunks more than 10 cm, stems and branches usually with galls. Bracteoles membranous, ciliateat the apex Suaeda monoica
1 Shrubs that do not normally exceed 2 m, with no galls. Bracteoles scarious, at least at the margin 2
2 Flowers solitary at the apex of the branches, leaves arching becoming semicircular in shape Suaeda palaestina
2 Flowers in glomeruli of 2-5, rarely solitary, leaves not arching nor semicircular 3
3 Upper part of fruit swollen, spongy, bottom part fused with the perianth at maturity Suaeda aegyptiaca
3 Fruit with thin walls, not spongy, wrapped by the perianth, not fused 4
4 Leaves shortly petiolate, cylindrical to globose Suaeda vermiculata
4 Leaves sessile, ± cylindrical but not globose. 5
5 Leaves long (up to 3 cm), linear, the floral leaves much longer than the flowers, which are solitary Suaeda ifniensis
5 Leaves always shorter and ± broadened, the floral leaves justlonger than the flowers, which are ternate 6
6 Leaves with two distinct faces, with angular margins, usually apiculate. Well defined inflorescences Suaeda vera
6 Leaves subcylindrical, ± flattened on the upper side, curved margins, slightly or not apiculate. Inflorescences diffuse 7
7 Leaves with small whitish hairs, ± pruinose, usually elongated and slightly apiculate Suaeda pruinosa
7 Leaves glabrous, broadened, ± ovoid, very obtuse, not apiculate Suaeda monodiana
Updated by: G. Benítez & J. Molero Mesa.